Ski and ski tip attachment



M. A. GURvl'cH SKI AND SKI TIP ATTACHMENT sept. 23, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed May 25, '1950 INVENTOR.

36 L MAXAGUPv/CH A rroRNEs/S Patented Sept. 23, 1952 UNITED 'Y rS''A'I'ES PATENT OFFICE SKI AND SKI TIP 'r'rAcHMENrr Max A. Gufrvieh, seattle, Wash. Application May e3, 195o, serial No. 16e-,602

c claims. (c1. 28o-11.37)

This invention relates to an improvedl form of ski and to a novel ski tip attachment for .con-- verting a conventional ski into such improved form, possessing certain unique features and advantages as set forth in the following specification. i

An object of the invention.l isftol improve'the"y controllability of skis in deep and soft snow. Conventional skis have a tendency to wander to= gether and apart, and turns are diicult to execute with them under such skiing conditions. According to the invention aspecial form of ski tip tends to stabilize theskis against such vwan:- dering and further tends to facilitate slue1 turns under such conditions by effectively anchoring the tips against lateral or edgewise movement while the heel ends are readily slued about such tips en'ectively as fulcrums.,` i y Another object is to reduce the danger of serious injuries during spills or falls when conventional ski tips sometimes tend to plunge intoI the snow and anchor the skiersfoot, throwing him violently forward and frequently wrenching or breaking an ankle, for example. The novel ski tip herein described greatly reduces the tendency for the skis to plunge and anchor in this manner.

A related object is to .reduce the tendency of banked skis to sink edgewise into the snow excessively during turns, causing retardationwhich sometimes will trip a skier.

Still another object is to provide a ski designed to reduce the annoying and sometimes dangerous.l tendency for the ski tips Ito cross over each other awkwardly when they are not kept apart properly, by the novice skier especially.

The invention is herein illustrated ,and de scribed in three representative formseach hav-` ing its separateadvantages ,but all 'basically alike in principle. The underlying concept 'for an improved form of ski tip is to incorporate in or attach to the progressively tapering and upcurved tip of a ski, which ski preferably is other-l wise conventional, lightweight means which willA resulting prow-like ski toe end portion are several times the vertical width or thickness of 'the 'basic or conventional ski tip portion. The top face of the thickened tip portion slopes downward to the rear and its heel terminus may either f air gradually into the top face of thev ski or join the same more'or less abruptlyin the vicinity of the heel end of such tip portion, depending on the design or form selected. l ..1 u

These and other features, objects and advan= tages of the invention, including certain details of the three preferred forms thereof', will become evident from the following detailed description thereofhaving reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a perspective view ci the tip poreV tion of a conventional ski carrying anovel ski to Figure 1 Abut showing a modied construction for securing the attachment to the ski tip.

Figure 6 is a top view of the same with parts broken away to illustrate the manner of engaging'the connecting or securing elements.

Figure '7k is a longitudinal section of a third modication in which the means for electively thickening the ski tip are incorporated integrally with the [basic ski construction.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the same.

The precise form of the tip of a conventional skiV l0 to which the attachment I2 shown in Figure 1 is applicable is not critical. In the illustrated case the converging opposite side edges of the ski tip terminate with a slight rounding as shown. It will be understood, however, that attachments may be made of different shapes and sizes to conform to different ski tip shapes as desired, or that ski tips may be reshaped if desired to conform to standard forms of attachments.

In its form shown in Figures 1 to 4, the attachment l2, preferably of cast magnesium or other light and strong material, is in the form of an open-bottomed wedge-like shell held or clamped securely against the top face of the ski tip to impart a prow-shaped form to the tip. The attachment sides I2s constitute upward extensionsof the oppositely curved side edges of the ski tip and are joined by a top wall or web I 2t which, over the major portion of its length, and

when mounted on the ski tip, slopes downward to the rear generally parallel to the downwardly sloping ski tip. Near its heel end the slope of upper wall lZt progressively increases as shown. Preferably its lower rearward edge and the lower edges of the side walls l2s make uniform close contact with the top face oi the ski to prevent infiltration and accumulation of snow which would add weight and tend to unbalance the ski.

The toe end of the attachment I2 has a lower recess or notch formation I8 defined by the ski tip and by intersecting transverse wall portions, one substantially perpendicular to the surface of the ski tip, which it contacts, and the other substantially parallel to such surface, as shown best in Figure 2. This notch is provided for receiving. a cord or cable for fastening climbers to the ski when desired. A loop o cord inserted in this notch extends rearwardly to fasteningsv on the climber in the usual manner.

For securing the attachment i2 to the, conventional ski tip, a mounting bar or web I4 extendsV transversely between opposite lower side edges of' the attachment and is bored and tapped at transversely spaced locations to receive mounting screws i6 projected upwardly and threadedinto` the bores through the bottom of the ski as shown in Figure 2. The screw heads are couni'ersunky to avoid projections which would increase` the glidingV .resistance oif the ski. If desired other means for securing the attachment to the ski tip may be employed as a substitute or to augment that shown.

In a typical oase lan attachment of cast magnesium has an average wall` thickness of about 1/3 of an inch, and for standard sixor seven-foot skis is about rive inches in length and about three inches in transverse width. Its maximum height or vertical widthA is about two inches. The shape and. dimensions of the attachment may be. varied appreciably. It is` preferred that its length be such that its heel end', when mounted on. the ski, will lie at or just behind the upwardly curved. tip portion, of the ski. .If it bemuch longer its size and hence its weight will bet objectionably irl--Y creased.

In the alternative form shown, in Figures 5 and 6 the general shape and construction of the ski tip attachment shown and described above is retained, the modication residing in the manner of` securing the same to the ski tip. In this case the transverse securing bar` Hl' occupies an elevated position bridging between opposite side walls [2s of the attachment, as shown in Figure 5.

in this case the attach-ment l2' is adapted for readydetachment from the ski.

The illustrated detachable securing device comprises the tapered channel-shaped member 2li having an upper web or back side which. is fastened by machine screws 22 in a central position against the lower side of the securing bar I4'. The lower edges ot the longitudinally convergent verticalanges of this channel are of rolled construction to form sliding ribs 24 as shown. A similarly tapered channel'ashaped clip 26 having vertical flanges inturned at their edges t-o form grooves slidably receiving the ribs 24, is secured by wood screws 2li` on the face oi the ski tip. The clip 2S is so located on lthe ski tip, that when the element 2 is engaged therewith by rearward engaging movement of such element from its initial position shown in Figure 6 to its engaged position shown in Figure 5 the ski tip attachment i2 will be in proper registry with the ski tip contour as shown.

Spaced notches dcut in the rolled edges 24 of the element 2S are engaged by the indentations 32 of' the clip flanges to produce resilient locking actien and prevent accidental dislodgement of the element 30 from the clip 26. Other suitable detent devices may be employed to the same end. Such notches also permit slight bending of the rolled edges in their vertical planes to conform to the longitudinal curvature of the ski tip.

In the third illustrated form shown in Figures 7 and 8, the desired result is accomplished by permanently incorporated means imparting the desired prow-like form and. increased thickness to the ski tip. This is achieved in the illustrative case, of a laminated type ski, by separating the top layer 34 from the underlying layers or laminations of the ski tip in process of manufacture, and forming a notch or recess adapted to receive the prow-shaped hollow insert 38. This hollow insert, of plastic, cast` magnesium, or other lightweight, strongmaterial, has side walls 36s conforming to the side edge contour of the desired basic ski tip form. Its top wall 36t and bottom wall 36h (Figure 7)* converge rearwardly to intersect in a sharp acute angle. Near suchl heel end of theI inserty its downwardly sloping upper face flattens outsomewhat and' fairs gradually into the plane of the ski. As a result the top lamination 34-v can' be shaped conformably and bonded thereto as shown. Aphenclie resin orvother water resistant adhesive may be usedL to hold' the insert between the laminations of the ski tip, aided if desired by bottom screws 38 threaded into suitable reinforcing elements 401 molded on the inside of the bottom wal-l 36h of the attachment. Preferably a protective lip- 3611 extends around the upper edge of the insert 36 andiis flush with orslightly higher than the top# face of the lamination 34- to protect its edge against' being caught and split or loosened.

If desired the insert 36V may be. of a plastic material having the appearance of wood or any other appealing design orcoloring. Being of compl'etelysealecl'v construction, such an insert is imperv-ious to penetration of snow or moisture.

In. all forms, the modined. skiY tip has advantages and characteristics tending to increase the safety and enjoyment of skiing as described. Beca-use of the several-fold increased thickness of theski tips; the tendency thereof to. cross.

over one another to the embarrassment of a novice' skier, for example is greatly diminished'. Moreover, if the skier should' fallwhen traveling at high speed and the tip of a ski on edge commence to ydigy into the snow, the then lower portion of' thel prow-shaped tip willY present to the snow a broad upwardly curved' surface which resists such penetration as shownv in Figure 4. In other words the ski tip tends to surface itself under various conditions and prevent the edges of the skis from sinking' into the snow excessively; ThisA feature also operates to advantage during turns in which thev edges of conventional skis tend tonsink into the snow. when the skis are banked and thereby retard the skis to such an' extent that a skier is sometimes tripped.

When skiingi'n deep snow these prow-shaped.`

' of travel;

a ski tip affords these advantages without unduly unbalancing the skis. Any slight unbalance which the attachments l2 or the inserts 36 may create can be readily corrected or compensated for by fastening a balancing weight on the heel ends of the skis in an obvious manner. Alternatively any such slight unbalance which the attachments or inserts create can be compensated for by shifting the positions of the bindings slightly forward of the balance point of the skis without such attachments or inserts. It will be noted that the resulting thickness of the ski tip in any of the modicatons shown is of a thick ness greater than half the maximum width of the Ski.

I claim as my invention:

1. A demountable ski tip attachment for a ski having an elongated and generally flat body portion and a toe end portion joined to the body portion and curved upwardly and forwardly therefrom and progressively tapered forwardly in width, comprising a prow-shaped member having a top wall, and upright side walls converging forwardly and spaced apart substantially corresponding to the width 0f the ski toe end portion, the bottom edges of said upright sides being convexly curved for substantially contiguous engagement with the upwardly curved ski toe end portion. and means for securing said attachment on the upper side of the ski toe end portion.

2. A demountable ski tip attachment for a ski having an elongated and generally flat body portion and a tip portion joined to the body portion and curved upwardly and forwardly therefrom and progressively tapered forwardly in width, comprising a prow-shaped hollow shell member having top and rear transverse Wall portions, and upright side walls converging for- Wardly and spaced apart substantially corresponding to the width of the ski tip portion, leaving an open bottom, the bottom edges of said upright sides being convexly curved for substantially contiguous engagement with the upwardly curved sk i tip portion, and means for securing said attachment on the upper side of the ski tip portion with such tip portion closing the bottom opening of the attachment.

3. The attachment deflned in claim 2, wherein the securing means comprises a bar extending between the upright sides of the attachment substantially ush with the lower edges of such sides.

4. The attachment dei-ined in claim 2, wherein the securing means comprises a bar extending Abetween the upright sides of the attachment, a

clip adapted to be secured to the upper side of the ski tip portion, and a cooperating clip engaging element carried by said bar and detachably engageable with said clip for securing said attachment to the ski. v

5. A laminated ski comprising stacked laminations adhesively bonded together over the major portion of the skis length, the toe end portion of the ski being upwardly curved and including an upper lamination separated from an underlying lamination, and a hollow prow-shaped insert interposed between and secured to said upper and underlying laminations to increase the thickness of said toe end portion over a substantial part of the length to several times that of the immediately adjoining portion of the ski.

6. The laminated ski defined in claim 5, in which the hollow insert is closed on all sides.

MAX A. GURVICH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are,of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,242,156 Wallace May 13, 1941 2,455,920 Ebbley, Jr. Dec. 14, 1948 2,539,369 Lund Jan. 23, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 212,221 Switzerland Feb. 3. 1941 

